The energy trade balance deficit has dropped from 6,298 million dinars in the first ten months of 2019 to 3,974 MD in the same period in 2020, down 37% (taking into account the royalty on Algerian gas exports), according to data published by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines.
Regarding the monthly deficit of the trade balance in 2020, the report indicates that it decreased during the month of October 2020 by 62% compared to the same period of 2019.
Exports of the energy products posted a 37% decline in value, coupled with a decrease in import value also by 37%, said the same source.
Trade in the energy sector is very sensitive to three factors, namely the quantities traded, the exchange rate of the dollar against the Tunisian dinar (which has improved) and the price of Brent crude (which has fallen sharply).
This is besides the reference quality on which are indexed the prices of imported and exported crude oil and petroleum products.
With regard to the quantitative deficit of the trade balance, it saw a 20% rise in October 2020 compared to September 2019.
